Month: August 2012

This first week of school has been overwhelming but I feel like I can almost catch my breath. Just one more hiccup to overcome.

Just typed a paragraph of kvetching and then deleted it. Because I’m not gonna do that. I knew this would be difficult but the payoff of graduating next May is going to be worth it.

So suck it up self.

In better news, my manager stopped by my desk the other day and said “I have something for you to say thanks for all you’ve done this year.” It was a raise. I must say it made my day.

And since this is turning into one of those diarrhea of the mouth posts – I am looking more and more foreword to trying to get to the Pacific Northwest in a couple of years. We visited a little mountain town here in Arizona last weekend and I realized just how much I miss trees, and grass, and coolness. It was soul refreshing.

Our friendship ran the course that all except those very rare friendships run. Frequent contact becomes less frequent as life intrudes until your friendship is yearly contact and warm memories. It never seems that imperative to reconnect because reconnecting is always a possibility.

Until it isn’t.

And now it’s not.

I don’t know what was going on in his life that led to this. Even had I known I probably wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it – we were never confidants. But if I could I would. I would.

Absence that yesterday was not noticeable has today become stark and sharp.

Those who know me know that I am somewhat fascinated by the preparedness movement. The bit of “back to the land” that’s involved. The dash of animal husbandry. The food preservation techniques employed. The adrenaline rush of post apocalyptic planning. All of it combines to give me a little contact high. But lately I’ve been thinking more critically about it.

First, full disclosure – I could not be classified as a “prepper.” I don’t have any guns. I don’t have food stockpiles that could feed a small village (although my pantry is well stocked). Gas masks are not a part of my wardrobe. And here’s the kicker, I believe that if a catastrophe large enough to warrant living in an underground bunker for a year were to happen we’d pretty much be fucked anyway.

But I do have a nagging suspicion that we don’t’ build enough resiliency into our lives. And I have another nagging suspicion that by the twilight of my life that resiliency will be indispensable.

We live on a finite planet yet we pursue a course of infinite growth. I don’t think we can help it. We are living, natural organisms. As such it is almost impossible for us to ignore the DNA imperative to reproduce. This wouldn’t be so bad except that we’re also smart. We manipulate our environment in ways that other organisms just can’t achieve. We “intelligent” our way out of limiting factors and in so doing we defeat the equilibrium that nature would otherwise impose on us. We’re like the rabbits of Australia. Rabbits didn’t exist in Australia until 1788 when they were imported by English colonists. In an effort to make Australia more “English” 24 of the little buggers were released into the wild. By 1920 those 24 rabbits had exploded to 10 billion.

That’s billion with a B.

The rabbits weren’t evil. Hell, they weren’t even aware. All of a sudden they had all this space, and all this available food (energy), and no natural predators. They did what they were suppose to do, namely grow. They just did it in an inappropriate place.

We have experienced the same kind of population boom with the relatively recent discovery of easily obtainable, ridiculously concentrated energy.

Oil has been our Australia.

It is no coincidence that the absurd growth in world population coincides with the discovery and implementation of oil. And the problem is, even if we find a substitute for oil (which we won’t), even if oil were limitless (which it isn’t) it wouldn’t matter – because the rest of the earth is finite. We require so much more than energy to live and we are screechingly close to our limits.

I don’t think the species will be wiped out, I certainly hope it won’t. We’re a pretty cool bunch in my opinion. But I just know that life for my children and grand-children (when they come… and it better be a few more years!) is sure to be very different than what we’ve experienced so far. And while I think the downward slope will be a slope and not a cliff I still believe it will be a bumpy ride. And so, in this very roundabout way we reach resiliency.

Resiliency is the ability to bounce back, to adapt, to weather. Resiliency is the answer to the question “and then what?”

Oil production begins to decline… and then what?

Population reaches it max… and then what?

Climate change happens… and then what?

The zombies are finally beaten back… and then what?

I’ve come to realize that it is not the fate of my generation to stop these things from happening. We couldn’t stop it even if we had the willpower, which we don’t. My generation’s responsibility is to leave behind the best chance possible for our children.

Starting school again next week. I’ve been working off and on toward a bachelor’s degree since 1984 (It hurts my ego to even make that statement haha). Going to give a herculean push and see if I can finally make it. The company I work for has a fantastic tuition reimbursement program and the degree I’m pursuing is totally online at ASU – so, we’ll see. It’s going to be brutal, there’s now way around that. I’m taking 18 hours this semester and 18 hours next semester but at the end I should be done. Send me positive energy, I’m gonna need it.

Oh, and that will be my new excuse for not posting very much… just fair warning. hahaha

Welcome!

One guy with one husband two grown children and a yapping dog plows his way through life, occasionally looking back and thinking "Did I do that?"

I hope you enjoy your visit.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.